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Introduction

Prepare for safaris, diving, jet-skiing and other activities in Libya if you?re looking for an active vacation, or pack for relaxation by the beach.  

After being colonized by the Romans and later on by the Turks and then the Italians, Libya was under United Nations administration when it finally achieved independence in 1951. Colonel Mu'ammar Gaddafi seized power in 1969. Gaddafi was long seen as a supporter of terrorism. Determined to shed that image, Gaddafi's tone has softened in recent years and he has become an elder statesman of Africa. He also announced a plan in 2003 to end the country's programs to develop weapons of mass destruction. The United States in 2006 removed Libya from its list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

Libya has a population of six million. Islam is the most practiced religion, while Arabic is the official and widely spoken language, although English is also spoken. Libya is the home of a diverse mixture of ethnicities, which include Turks, Berbers and sub-Saharan Africans. Libya adheres to Islamic traditions, while rejecting, for the most part, the flashy materialism found in other oil-rich countries. Libyan music and dance plays an important role in the culture, and television devotes increasing attention to traditional and various styles of Libyan music and dance.

Several direct flights from inside and outside the African continent arrive in Tripoli. Airlines include British Airways, Lufthansa, Alitalia, EgyptAir and Olympic Airways. The road systems in Libya are very good for the most part. Taxis abundant in the larger cities and will travel all over the country.

Among the country's resorts is the five-star Corinthia BAB Africa Hotel in Tripoli. It has spacious, traditionally decorated rooms, a shopping outlet, multi-lingual staff, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The four-star Safwa Hotel has a garden coffee shop, spacious and traditionally decorated rooms, a large restaurant/bar and lounges.